In-vehicle text messaging experience engine

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides a system and apparatus for providing a telematics system user with an improved texting experience. A messaging experience engine database enables voice avatar / personality selection, acronym conversion, shorthand conversion, and custom audio and video mapping. As an interpreter of the messaging content that is passed through the telematics system, the system eliminates the need for a user to manually manipulate a texting device, or to read such a device. The system recognizes functional content and executes actions based on the identified functional content.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]With the current and increasing popularity of texting as a form of instant communication among individuals, both for business and for pleasure, the texting experience extends into more aspects of the users' lives. For example, while texting was once infrequent enough to rarely coincide with driving activities, users are increasingly needing or desiring to engage in texting while driving.[0002]However, the physical requirements of texting can be incompatible with the physical requirements of driving, since both activities typically require one or more hands to execute. Moreover, the unique written style of text messaging precludes the use of a typical text-to-speech engine to allow for messages to be communicated properly to a driver over the audio system. Thus, a system is needed to allow efficient and satisfying text sending and text receiving experiences for users of in-vehicle texting systems.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention provi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]The invention provides a system and method to provide users with a customizable and personalized in-vehicle text messaging experience that encourages safe driving habits. A messaging experience engine database assists the user in attaining an improved texting experience. The messaging experience engine database enables voice avatar / personality selection, acronym conversion, shorthand conversion, and custom audio and video mapping. With respect to the latter, for example, a text message may include a URL to an audio and / or video file, and employing the described principles, the system will determine how to handle this content, e.g., by retrieving and playing the indicated audio content. This action may be customized in that the user may specify the manner in which such materials are to be handled. As an interpreter of the messaging content that is passed through the telematics system, the messaging experience engine database eliminates the need for a user to manually manipulate a texting device, or to read such a device.

Problems solved by technology

However, the physical requirements of texting can be incompatible with the physical requirements of driving, since both activities typically require one or more hands to execute.

Moreover, the unique written style of text messaging precludes the use of a typical text-to-speech engine to allow for messages to be communicated properly to a driver over the audio system.

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